Oil well shooting equipment for use on automobiles



Aug. 30, 1932.

on. WELL snoowme EQUIPMEN'I FOR usn on AUTOMOBILES Filed Aug. 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I E if Qii nmmnmm "I" ll INVENTOR amt/290 1 c/ BY humwi ATTORNEY o. BOND l;874,8 70

Aug. 30, 1932. BOND 1,874,870

OIL WELL SHOOTING EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON AUTOMOBILES- Fil ed Aug. 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a V ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1 932 oscata BOND, or sammra, oiznanom OIL wnLL snoorme EQUIPMENT ron usrz on AUTOMOBILEI Application filed August 19, 1930. Serial No. 476,385.

. My invention relates to reeling devices, more particularly to reeling devices for use in lowering shells containing explosives into w oil wells for subsequent explosion to open L5 the same, and it consists in the combinations, 'constructions and arrangements herein shown and described. I s

As is well known to engineers. and others engaged in the operation of oil wells, the use of explosives at the bottom of the well to open up the same is often necessary. This operation requires a careful lowering of the explosive to the bottom of the well preferably at a uniform speed to prevent premature explosion, and a withdrawal of the line used in lowering the shell before the said shell is detonated. It is therefore, a primary purpose of my invention to provide a reel, that is particularly adapted to accomplish the above functions in an easy and efficient manner, requiring no great amount of skill or experience on the part of an operator in'its use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that is so equipped with safety means that the shell cannot drop into the well when being raised, even though the driving means of said reel should become inoperative for any reason.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that is adapted to lower shells of variable size into the wells.

Another object is to provide a device of the type described that is adapted to make use of a measuring reel in measuring the length of cable going into and consequently the depth of the well.

A yet further object is to provide a device of the type described that is adapted for operation from anysuitable source of power, such as an automobile or similar vehicle having power means for its operation.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a, device of the type described which has few parts, is simple to manufacture, and does not get out of order easily.

I 'Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds and the invention will be more particularly defined in the appended claims. T

My device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which i Figure 1 is an elevational viewof a device according to my invention, mounted for usev on an automobile,

Figure 2 is a sideelevational view of the device, similarly mounted,

Figure 3 is a sectional viw=through a por- 'tion of my device,

I .Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4: of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5.-5 05 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6-45 of Figure 3.

In carrying out my invention I make use of an ordinary automobile 1 which I have shown as of the coupe type, but which could be any other type, if so desired. In adapting this automobile to my invention I equip a wheel 2 that is driven from the power means of the automobile, in this case the rear right wheel thereof, with a driving sprocket 3, which is provided to transmit power from said wheel to my device for the operation thereof as will be described presently.

In adapting the rear portion of the 'automobile to mount the operating portions of my reel, I secure transversely of the rear platform 4' of said vehicle a bar 5 which extends a substantialdistance beyond said platform and to a point nearl in alinenient with sprocket 3. This bar is esigned to cooperf ate with the platform 4 in supporting the device. It may be fastened to t e floor 4 byany suitable means such as the bolt and nut fasteners shown at 6.

Secured to the platform 4 by means of the fasteners 6 are a pair-of bearing standards 7, which may be of triangularv form with one of the sides of the triangle secured to the floor 4, and a bearing 8 in the a 1: thereof. An additional bearing standar 9 is mounted on the bar 5. This standard may also be of triangular formation and disposed in a fashion similar to bearings 7 It rovides a bearing 10 at its upper apex. ach

' ends as indicated at 21 and 22.

of the bearings 8 and 10 are equipped with lubricating means consisting of the grease cups 11.

For rotatably mounting the parts of my reel a hollow shaft 12 is positioned in the bearings 8. This shaft has two bores 13 and 14 for the reception of grease or other lubricant therein for introduction through passages 15 and 16 to spaces 17 and 18 between the shaft and the reels 19 and 20 respectively, which reels will be later described.

The shaft is internally threaded at both Threaded portion 21 receives the stub shaft of a measuring reel 21 when it is wished to utilize the same for determining the length of line unreeled or the depth of the well. The use of this reel is well understood by those skilled in the art.

Threaded portion 22 is adapted for the reception of stub shaft 23 of sprocket shaft 24,

which is rotatably mounted in the hearing 1.0. This sprocket shaft 24 is of the same size as shaft 12 and when the two are joined by stub shaft 23, constitute essentially one shaft. The sprocket shaft 24 mounts at its outer extremity by means of washer 25 and nut 26, sprocket 27. This sprocket is adapted to be driven from sprocket 3 for rotation of shaft 24 by means of chain 28.

For preventing longitudinal movement of the shaft in its bearings a washer 29 is fixed thereto to-engage bearing 8 for limitation of this movement.

The reel 20 is adapted to Wind and unwind cables used in lowering the heavier torpedo or shots into the well such as shots weighing one hundred pounds or more. It comprises a hollow drum 30, disc flanges 31 and 32, and a brake drum 33 integral with flange 31. The hollow drum receives the hearings which rotatably mount the reel 20 relative to shaft 12,

and members 34 and 35, which may be of conventional construction with the inner collars or races secured to the shaft 12 by woodruf keys 34 disposed in keyways 34 formed in the inner race. Thus the reel 20 may move laterally for a purpose presently to be described. The disc flanges 31 and 32 have friction surfaces 36 and 37 respectively on their outer sides or surfaces for engagement w th friction washers 38 and 39 respectively,

which are secured against rotation but are permitted to reciprocate 38 and 39 -s1idable in'slots 38 and 39", respectively by means of keys. \Vhen these washers are forced into close engagement with the disc 31 and 32- respectively they secure the reel20 for rotation with the shaft, and when they are moved out of engagement with said discs, the reel 20 is not revolved with the shaft. r

For forcing washer 38 intoengagement with disc flange 31 to forcibly engage the cooperating washers and disc flanges to secure the reel 20 to the shaft 12 for rotation th reposition.

shown at 41. This sleeve 40 has engaged with the threads thereof a hollow sleeve 42, Which is internally threaded, and which is provided with a handwheel 43 for rotation relative to sleeve 40 by an operator. The hollow sleeve 42 is equipped with an upwardly projecting lug 44 through which a screw bolt 45 projects for engagement with washer 3 8 for securing sleeve 42 and washer 38 against relative rotation, when a braking force is desired on reel 20. A slidable thrust bearing 46 placed between sleeve 42 and washer 38 permits rotation of sleeve 42 during the exertion of force on washer 38.

For stopping rotation ofreel 20 in emergencies a brake band 47 is provided for cooperation with brake drum 33. This brake band is mounted on a beam 48 secured in position by standards 49 and 50. It is adjusted by means of the bolt and nut means comprising the bolt 51 and wheel nut 52. The upper portion 53 of bolt- 51 is threaded for engagement by a quick-acting lever or a hand wheel 53 adapted to depress nut 52 for operation of the brake. This construction is conventional and need not he further described. The brake is normally positioned in the off The reel 19 is provided for lowering small charges into the wells, that is charges of ten pounds or so. For this reason it is called the squib reel. It is substantially similar in conhollow cylindrical drum 54 for mounting the lowering cable, and disc flanges 55 and 56 at either extremity having friction disks 55 and 56 secured thereto for engagement by friction washers 57 and 58, which rotate with the shaft. The reel is madefreely rotatable and laterally movable relative to'the shaft by means of bearings 59 and 60.

This reel is operated in a fashion similar to reel 20 by means of handwheel 43, which engages washer 58, when revolved in a direction to be moved to the left in Figure 3, to force said washer against the reel, and the reel against the other washer, which is fixed to or integral with the shaft.

For preventing the shell from falling into the well when the same is being raised therefrom in the event of breakage of the chain 28 or failure of the power means to operatively control the rotation of shaft 12 for other reasons, a one way brake generally indicated at 61 is provided. This one way brake means comprises a ratchet 62 secured to washer "57 and consequently fixed to shaft 12 and a cooperating holding pawl 63 pivotally mounted 1 prevented from counter clockwise rotation as viewed in said figure.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my device is easily understood. When the operator desires to shoot a well, he backs the automobile up to a point adjacent thereto and jacks up the right rear wheel. He then positions handwheel 43 in a neutral position, that is out of engagement with either washer 58 or 38. The operator then selects either the cable 65 or 66 and draws upon the cable until it reaches the top of the well. The cable 65 is selected if a large shot is to be used, while the cable 66 is made use of if a small charge is to be detonated. The shaft 12 is held stationary during this movement bymeans of the one-way brake.

The shell containing the charge is then secured by any suitable releasable hook means (not shown) to the end of the cable selected, and lowered into the well hole due' to action of gravity. If the operator desires to slow-up the rate of descent he revolves handwheel 43 to move the same in the desired direction for engagement with'either washer 58 or 38, depending upon which reel he has selected to forcibly engage the friction washers with the disc flanges of said reel for slowing the revolving motion thereof. By this means a descent at 'a'uniform speed can be secured.

When the shell is at the bottom of the well it is released; The operator then secures theor unloaded, retrograde movement of said shaft 12 is prevented by the one-way brake.

It is thus seen that I have provided a reeling device that is adapted to raise or lower a shell into a well at a uniform rate of speed, and that is equipped with safety means for preventing counter clockwise rotation of the shaft 12in the event offailure of the usual operating means during winding of the cable upon either of the drums 19 or 20.

' Iclaim:-'

1. In a reel for raising and lowering shells into wells and for like purposes, a rotatable shaft, a pair of reel drums positioned on said shaft for rotation relative thereto, and means for securing said drums to said shaft for rotation therewith at the will of an operator, comprising friction washers rotatable with said shaft limited against axial movement thereon, and each abutting one of said drums, a friction washer rotatable with said shaft,

freely movable axially thereon, and adapted to abut the adjacent side of each of said said shaft and positioned adjacent said drums and means therebetween for forcibly engaging said axially movable friction Washers with a desired drum comprising a threaded sleeve mounted on said shaft, a second threaded sleeve engageable with the first named threaded sleeve and means for manually rotating said second named sleeve on said first named sleeve to a position to exert axial pressure upon a desired washer.

3. In a reel, .a power driven shaft, a friction washer rotatable with said shaft but limited as to axial movement, a reel drum freely rotatable relatively to said shaft and abutting said washer, a second washer mounted for rotation with said shaft, but slidable thereon to abut said drum and means for forcing said second washer into en age ment with said drum comprising a t rust bearing, an axially adjustable sleeve adjacent said thrust bearing'and means positioned on said sleeve for engagement with said washer to secure said parts in fixed relationship.

4. In a reel, a power driven shaft, a pair of reel drums positioned on said shaft for rotation and endwisesliding movements relative to said shaft, friction washers fixed to said shaft for engagement with the outer extremities of respective drums, an axially movablefriction washer fixed for rotation with said shaft and positioned adjacent the other end of each drum, and means therebetween for forcibly engaging said axially movable washers with its respective drum comprising a threaded sleeve movable on said shaft, a second threaded sleeve engageable with the first named threaded sleeve, and ahand wheel as sociated with said second-named sleeve for rotation thereof to move said second named sleeve to a position to exert axial pressure upon a desired washer.

5. In a reel, a power driven shaft, a pair of reel drums positioned on said shaft for rotation and lateral sliding movements relative to said shaft, friction washers fixed tosaid shaft for engagement with the outer extremities of respective drums, and means between said drums for moving said drums into contact with respective friction washers.

6. In a reel, a power driven shaft, a oneway brake therefor, a drum positioned on said shaft for free rotation and endwise sliding movements relative to said shaft, friction washers positioned adjacent respective ends of said drums, stop means adjacent one of said friction washers to limit endwise movement of said drum and washers, a manually operable sleev'eadjacent the other of said friction washers having means for forcibly engaging said washer to move said washer and drum endwise of sand shaft, and means carried by said sleeve for locking engagement with said last named washer, whereby to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

OSCAR BOND. 

